West Valley City Truck Accident Attorney

The size and weight of the average truck make these vehicles some of the most imposing to drive beside. Combine their dimensions and the drivers’ odd hours, and one slip-up can cause a dangerous accident with devastating injuries or worse.

Who, though, is really to blame for your truck accident? How, too, can you recover from your losses? If you reach out to a truck accident lawyer in West Valley City, UT, at 1Law, you can discuss the options you have for financially recovering from your most recent truck accident.

When to File a Truck Accident Suit

If you feel your truck accident involved a degree of negligence, it is in your best interest to bring it before a civil court. The presence of negligence in a truck accident tends to indicate that a specific party violated the duty of care owed to you.

That said, it’s not always easy to determine whether or not your case involves negligence, particularly when you’re in the heat of the moment. It may be your instinct to give a truck driver the benefit of the doubt. However, these accidents can bring significant costs into your life, both medical and in terms of property damage.

That’s why you can always bring an uncertain case to a truck accident lawyer in West Valley City, UT. We can assess your losses as well as your circumstances to determine if you have a case on your hands. From there, we can work with you to customize your approach to the upcoming legal proceedings.

Bring Your Claim Forward Within Utah’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

The days following your accident are meant for you to focus on your recovery. At the same time, though, you need to be aware of any deadline placed on your right to financial compensation. In Utah, the personal injury statute of limitations limits the amount of time in which you can act.

Utah Code § 78B-2-307 gives you four years to present a comprehensive truck accident claim to a local civil court. If you’re not able to bring a claim forward within this time period, you can waive your right to financial support. Your claim should also be as well-rounded as possible, including evidence to support your request for financial support.

You’re under no obligation to try and draft a truck accident claim on your own, of course. Whether you’re intimidated by the legal jargon of a civil court or contending with life-changing injuries, our attorneys can step in on your behalf. We can work with you to outline your concerns and calculate the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Liability in Truck Accidents

There’s more than one party that can bear the blame for a truck accident. While it’s easy to assume that a truck driver may be expected to reimburse you for your losses, make sure you assess the full extent of your accident before you name a liable party.

Taking Claims Against Trucking Agencies

On some occasions, the truck driver you get into an accident with will work for a larger agency. If this truck driver is considered an “employee” by that company, as opposed to an independent contractor, you may have to take your complaint up against the company instead of the individual.

This is not inherently a bad thing. In fact, charging a company with the liability for your losses can see you net a greater sum in your case. These companies often have legal teams that are interested in settling before you can take a case to court, meaning that you can advocate for comprehensive financial support without having to wait for a court to approve your suit.

Taking Claims Against Independent Truckers

Unfortunately, many truck drivers are considered independent contractors. While these truck drivers may work under the umbrella of an agency, that agency may not include them among its employees. If these truck drivers get into accidents, you may have to bring your suit against the individual and not their parent company.

There are two ways to approach accidents that involve independent contractors. If you want to keep things simple, you can try to negotiate with the independent truck driver. Alternatively, you can investigate the driver’s standing with their company.

There have been occasions when a company will misrepresent its relationship with its independent contractors. If it appears that a truck driver involved in a recent accident actually served as an employee, you can hold that company liable for your losses. A West Valley City truck accident attorney can research this distinction for you when we take on your case.

Use Your Claim to Advocate for Compensation

Truck accidents can result in serious losses for pedestrians, motorists, and other victims. That, however, is where your complaint comes in. Legal complaints give you the opportunity to pursue compensation for your losses. Whether you address your concerns via negotiations or a traditional trial, you can request that the allegedly-liable party help you contend with your losses.

After most truck accidents, you may have the right to request compensation in return for your:

• Medical bills related to the accident
• Property damage, essential repairs, and replacements
• Rental fees in the face of damaged property
• Lost wages and/or opportunities for work

You can further request that attorneys apply modifiers to your losses based on your emotional damages. Multipliers for emotional distress or pain and suffering can increase the settlement you take home at the end of a case. 

You Can Discuss the Specifics of Your Truck Accident Case With Our Team

The liability in truck accident cases can leave you more confused than relieved. If you’re not sure who to target with your accident claim, the process of trying to secure adequate compensation can feel unnecessarily complicated. That’s why West Valley City truck accident lawyers want to ease your post-accident burden.

The 1Law team strives to provide you with the most straightforward path to truck accident compensation when you pursue a civil complaint. You can discuss what this process may look like for you during an initial case consultation. Contact us online or over the phone, and we can begin to bring your truck accident case together.